Distinctive features and etymology of the Leia name, recommendations for cultivation, advice on reproduction, difficulties in the care process, interesting facts, types. Leia (Leea) can also be found under the name Lei or Leia in various sources. It belongs to the Leeaceae family according to one classification, and according to the other to the rather extensive family of Vitaceae. Native territories of growth fall on the lands of South and Southeast Asia, and these plants are also not uncommon in the north and east of the Australian continent and the islands of New Guinea, they are also found in some part of Africa. Scientists included up to 70 varieties in this genus.
This plant bears its name in honor of James Lee, a gardener from Scotland, who introduced many new representatives of the flora to England in the 17th century. This decision was made by Karl Linnaeus, who at that time was engaged in the taxonomy of all known plant species.
Leia in natural growth takes on a shrub form with an evergreen deciduous crown. In height, the plant can vary from 50 cm to 120 cm, the width also has the same parameters. Leia branches with a glossy surface. Leaf plates with pinnate or pinnately dissected outlines, glossy, serrate leaf segments. The length of the separate segment of the leaf can be 7–10 cm. Its outlines are lanceolate, the apex is pointed, and the edge is wavy. There are usually several such pairs of segments, and the length of the entire leaf is 60–80 cm. The color of young foliage is maroon, but as the leaf matures, the color changes from the upper side to green with a purple tint. There are varieties in which they take on a golden brown hue. The leaf stalks have a reddish-brown color.
When flowering, the Leia produces rather attractive-looking flowers with red or pink petals. From them are collected corymbose inflorescences. It is interesting that in their outlines the flowers are very reminiscent of berries and at the very beginning the color of the petals is bright red over time, as if fading, it becomes pinkish. With indoor cultivation, it is almost impossible to wait for flowering, but when cultivated in greenhouse conditions in the summer, the plant can bloom.
Often, the pollination of leea flowers occurs by means of pollinating insects, and flies, wasps, bees, butterflies and various bugs are also included there. There is evidence that some species have developed synchronized dichogamy when anthers and stigmas ripen in flowers at different times. This mechanism serves to prevent self-pollination of the plant. But if pollination has occurred, then after it ripens fruits in the form of berries, dark red or black color scheme.
Leia is a plant that is not too difficult to grow, but you should still follow certain rules. The growth rate is high, so for a year the growth can be up to 60 cm. If the conditions of maintenance are not violated, then the plant can delight the owner from three to eight years in indoor cultivation.
Recommendations for growing Leia, home care
- Lighting and location selection. The east or west direction of the windows is suitable, where the leeya will receive bright, but diffused lighting. The plant tolerates partial shade, but in full shade - the foliage becomes shallow.
- The temperature of the content when growing lei in the summer it should be in the range of 25-28 degrees. In the winter months, heat indicators are maintained at about 16 units. If the temperature drops significantly, then the plant stops owl growth and foliage begins to fall. It is also important to protect the leeya from drafts when ventilating.
- Air humidity when growing Leu should be in the range of 68-80%. At the same time, it is recommended to spray the foliage twice a week (at least), trying to ensure that drops of liquid fall on both surfaces. The water is used soft, free of limescale, otherwise whitish streaks and spots will appear on the surface of the leaves. Other ways of increasing the humidity level are also possible. This is the installation of air humidifiers next to the plant pot, as well as the flower pot is placed in a deep tray, on the bottom of which expanded clay or pebbles are poured and a little water is poured, just make sure that the edge of the liquid does not touch the bottom of the flowerpot.
- Watering. For this representative of the tropical and subtropical flora, abundant soil moisture is recommended, especially in summer in the heat. The filling of the substrate must not be allowed, it must always be in a slightly moist state. Drying completely is harmful. With the arrival of autumn, it is recommended to gradually reduce watering. Water should be used only soft and warm (with indicators of 20-24 degrees). If the amount of watering is insufficient or the liquid is too cold, then the foliage of the bush will immediately turn yellow, and the flowers will fly around.
- Fertilizers for growing leu are introduced during the period of vegetation activity (from the beginning of April to September) with a frequency of every 14 days. It is recommended to use complex mineral preparations in liquid form. The plant also responds well to organics.
- Transplantation and selection of a substrate. With the arrival of spring, every year you can change the pot of the plant and the soil in it for a new one, when the Leia is still young. It is recommended to double the size of the pot. But over time, if the bush becomes too large, then when growing in a tub, only the upper layer of the substrate changes. Before laying the drainage layer in the new container, it is necessary to provide holes for the drain of excess moisture. Drainage can be medium-sized expanded clay or pebbles, broken shards or crushed brick can also be used, but it must be well sifted from dust. You can use a universal purchased substrate for transplanting with the addition of sand to it. Any soil must have nutritious properties and allow air and moisture to pass well to the root system. Soil acidity is selected with pH 5, 5–6, 8. Often, growers themselves mix the compositions for plant transplantation, using leafy soil, sod soil, coarse river sand or perlite, peat (all components are equal in volume).
- Leia flowering and pruning. The formation of buds in a plant grown in a tub or pot does not occur. In order to give the deciduous crown the required shape, it is recommended to prune the branches. Leia tolerates these procedures quite well.
How to multiply leeya with your own hands?
When propagating a plant, you can use the method of cuttings or sowing seed material.
The tops of the shoots are cut into cuttings in the spring. The branches must be ripe, since if you use young shoots, then such cuttings may not take root. There should be one internode on the workpiece. It is recommended to treat the cut of the cutting with a rooting stimulator. Workpieces are planted in pots filled with peat-sandy substrate (parts of the components are equal). The container with cuttings is placed in a shaded place, covering the plantings with a plastic bag or glass vessel. It is recommended to ventilate daily for 2 hours to remove accumulated condensation. If the soil in the pot is dry, then it will need to be moistened. The germination temperature is maintained at about 22-25 degrees.
For seed propagation, sowing should be carried out in February days. The container is used wider, it is filled with a soil mixture of leafy soil and sand, or you can use a sandy-peat substrate. Parts of any composition must be equal. Seeds germinate for a rather long time - from a month to three. Before planting, you should soak them for a couple of days in water with a growth stimulant dissolved in it (for example, heteroauxin or Kornevin). Then the seeds are distributed evenly over the surface of the soil, they are powdered with a layer of soil of 2-3 mm. It is recommended to moisten the crops from above from a fine-dispersed spray bottle. Next, the container with seeds should be wrapped in a plastic bag or covered with a piece of glass. The germination temperature is maintained within 25-27 degrees.
When the seedlings hatch, then the shelter should be removed and the seeds should be accustomed to room temperature gradually until they are sufficiently strong. The grown Leia seedlings can be transplanted into separate pots with a suitable substrate for further cultivation.
Reproduction using layering is often used.
Difficulties in growing Leu and methods of dealing with them
Most of all of the pests, leeu like to infect thrips. If traces of a harmful insect are found - black dots on the back of the leaf, and if the colony of pests has grown, then silvery or whitish stripes are visible on the leaf plate. Leaves become twisted and fly around, the same happens with buds and flowers. Then a sticky, sugary bloom appears - a fall, the release of a pest, if you do not take action, this will lead to the development of a sooty fungus. When the first signs of a pest are found, treatment with insecticidal preparations should be carried out.
Also, if the conditions of detention are violated, the following problems arise:
- if direct rays of the sun hit the leaves at noon, sunburn is possible;
- when the plant lacks nutrients or the level of illumination is too low, then the shoots are ugly stretched;
- leaf plates and flowers may turn yellow if watering is insufficient or plentiful, as well as reduced heat values or the pot with the plant was moved to another place;
- foliage turned yellow and curled from watering with cold water;
- the color of the foliage will become less bright if the leee does not have enough food;
- with waterlogging, gray rot may develop, it will be necessary to carry out treatment with fungicides;
- when changing the color of the foliage from dark red and cherry to a greenish color on the upper side, you should not be frightened, for a plant this is a normal phenomenon;
- the appearance of white crystallizing spots on the leaves should also not cause concern, since this process is normal for leu, since droplets are released through the stomata.
Interesting facts about lee
Attention!!! Since poisonous substances are present in all parts of the plant, it is recommended to wear gloves when working with it, since an allergic reaction may occur if the juice gets on the skin. You should not install the pot of lei in children's rooms and keep the plant away from pets, as poisoning may occur if the leaves are eaten. Often the plant is ranked as belonging to the Vinogradov family, but the representatives of this species and leeu have differences. They are expressed in the number of eggs in the nest - in grapes, there is a pair of them, in Leia - one, as well as in the number of pistils: a pair in the first and three in Leia. The flower disc is found only in grape vines, while the leia has a staminoid cork. If we take into account the structure of the pollen, then it also differs, therefore, among scientists there is still no consensus regarding the belonging of Leia to one of the families - Leevs or Vinogradovs.
Types of leea
- Leeya bright red (Leea coccinea). This is the only variety that is successfully grown indoors. Growth form in the form of a bush. Height parameters - 2 meters. The leaf plates reach 10 cm in length. Leaves-segments have the ability to release droplets of pinkish or whitish color through their stomata, which turn into crystals over time. The number of buds arising during flowering is multiple. The flowers have bright red petals with a pink limb. The inflorescences in which the flowers are collected are of an umbrella type. After flowering, black fruits are formed. In the conditions of rooms, it almost does not bloom, but in the summer, flowering is possible when grown in a greenhouse. Popular is the variety "Burgundy", which is distinguished by a red, bronze-red or dark purple shade of foliage on the underside, and on the top - green leaves. This will be possible if there is a good level of lighting. Young shoots are also cast red. The flowers have red petals and a pink tint in the middle.
- Leea guinea (Leea guineensis). It can grow as a shrub or tree. The surface of the branches is almost bare. The shape of the leaves is double or triple pinnate. The length of the petiole is 6–13 cm. The leaves are oval or elliptical segments. Their parameters are 5–15 cm in length and up to 2.5–8 cm in width. They are wedge-shaped at the base, the edge is sharp-toothed, the apex is pointed, the surface is bare. The foliage color initially has a bronze color, but then it turns dark green. The color of the petals in the buds is brick red. The number of petals is 5 units, the same number of stamens, their filaments reach 1, 2–1, 6 mm in length. After pollination, a berry ripens, measuring 0.8 cm in diameter. This variety is found in Taiwan, New Guinea, the Philippines, the territories of Thailand, Laos, Indonesia, Laos, Vietnam, Africa and Madagascar also belong there, grows in forests and shrubs.
- Indian leea (Leea indica). The plant respects the territories of Indochina, Australia, India and the Pacific Islands with its native lands. Prefers to settle in forests and bushes, climbing to a height of 200-1200 meters. It has a shrubby form of growth or can grow in the form of small trees. Bare branches, dense. Leaves with 2- or 3-pinnation, their surface is bare. The petiole is measured in length 13–23 cm. The shape of the leaf lobes is elliptical, elongated-elliptical or elliptical-lanceolate. The parameters are measured in length 6–32 cm with a width of about 2, 5–8 cm. The bases are rounded, sometimes broadly wedge-shaped. Irregular or slightly regular teeth run along the edge. The top of the leaflets is pointed or tailed. When flowering, the buds are collected in umbellate inflorescences. Bracts with oval elliptical-lanceolate outlines. Their parameters are 3-4 mm in length and 2.5-3 mm in width. The color of the petals in the flowers is white or whitish-green. Petals and stamens 5 units each. Flowering occurs in April-July. After pollination, fruitlets ripen with diameters of about 0.8-1 cm. They ripen in August-December.
- Leeya long-leaved (Leea longifolia) bushy plant with cylindrical bare branches. Leaves are double- or triple-pinnate. The petiole of the entire leaf is 18–25 cm long, and the petioles of the leaf lobes are 0.4–1 cm. Their surface is also bare. The handicap of the leaves is narrow-lanceolate. Their parameters are measured in the range of 4.5-24 cm in length and 0.8-3 cm in width. The apex of the leaf is pointed, the edge is wavy with glandular denticles. During flowering, loose inflorescences are collected from the buds, the stem is pubescent. Bracts are broadly triangular. Pedicels are 2–3 mm long, their surface is pubescent. The calyx has 5 sepals, their contours are also triangular and rounded. The petals are also 5 units, their shape is ovoid, the size is about 2 mm. When fruiting, a berry is formed with a diameter of 0, 6–0, 8 cm. Berries fully ripen in October-February. This species naturally grows in forests and damp thickets at an altitude of about 100-400 meters above sea level in Hainan.
How leeya looks like, see the video below:
